Arteta may bench Gyokeres & Havertz to unleash Arsenal’s personal Ekitike

A seven-point hole has now been opened up on the Premier League summit, with Arsenal‘s midweek win on the Amex guaranteeing this intriguing title race stays firmly of their fingers.

After three successive second-place finishes, the bridesmaid seems to be set to change into the bride, with the Gunners having undoubtedly been the division’s most dominant and constant power in 2025/26.

Regardless of trying like an announcement, game-changing signing on the time, nonetheless, summer time arrival Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t precisely been a central determine in that title push, even whereas main the best way with ten league objectives up to now.

On Wednesday evening towards Brighton and Hove Albion, specifically, the £63.5m Swede seemed distinctly off the tempo, leaving Mikel Arteta with actual meals for thought heading right into a pivotal stage of the season.

Evaluating Gyokeres & Havertz vs Brighton

There is no denying that Gyokeres has seemed much more threatening in latest weeks and months, notably terrorising Tottenham Hotspur’s Radu Dragusin within the North London derby not too way back.

Up towards his former membership, nonetheless, the ex-Sporting CP star endured an actual regression, failing to stay the knife into the facet that permit him go with out making a single league look on the south coast.

Hooked on the hour mark, the 27-year-old was virtually comically poor towards the Seagulls, dropping possession 13 occasions from simply 20 touches, boasting a dismal 47% go accuracy price.

He additionally didn’t win any of his eight tried duels, whereas additionally proving unable to register a single shot previous to his second-half withdrawal, with that substitution having been no shock, such was the way of his efficiency.

Certainly, the introduction of fellow ahead, Kai Havertz, was a welcome sight, with the German such a superbly gifted footballer, regardless of not essentially being an orthodox striker by commerce.

There’s not the tempo and energy of Gyokeres, but Havertz knits all of it collectively much more impressively, registering two photographs from his 20 touches, albeit whereas nonetheless dropping the ball 9 occasions.

Even in a defensive sense, he was superior too, nonetheless, profitable 5 duels in that late cameo, alongside profitable two fouls, serving a reminder as to what Arteta has been lacking for a lot of the marketing campaign to this point.

Gyokeres & Havertz vs Brighton
Stat	Gyokeres	Havertz
Minutes	59	31
Touches	20	20
Pictures	0	2
Key passes	1	0
Cross accuracy	47%	50%
Ball misplaced	13	9
Floor duels received	0/6	2/3
Aerial duels received	0/2	3/7
Fouls	3	0
Fouls received	0	2

With League One facet Mansfield now subsequent on the agenda within the FA Cup, the Gunners boss may truly go down a distinct path to refresh his ahead line.

Arteta may unleash Arsenal’s reply to Ekitike

With Gyokeres seemingly in want of a relaxation, and Havertz unlikely to be risked towards decrease league opposition, the plain alternative can be Gabriel Jesus towards Nigel Clough’s facet.

That mentioned, there may be nonetheless a way that the Brazilian’s finest work comes from the flanks, because it did at Manchester Metropolis beforehand, whereas the 29-year-old’s temporary renaissance has been halted in latest weeks.

As a substitute then, Arteta may rotate his facet and use this chance to throw academy striker, Andre Harriman-Annous into the combination, with the 18-year-old netting two in his final three video games at U21 Premier League degree.

He has solely made two senior appearances this season, these coming towards Slavia Prague and Brighton, but he notably impressed in that EFL Cup outing towards Fabian Hurzeler’s males.

Unleashed from the beginning, {the teenager} did solely contact the ball 16 occasions, though misplaced possession simply twice, registering one key go and lacking one ‘huge probability’ in that 77-minute outing.

Regardless of having not featured since his late Champions League cameo again in November, Harriman-Annous could possibly be value one other look so far as Arteta is worried, with Saturday doubtlessly the right probability to get additional senior minutes below his belt.

He should be solely 18, though the England youth star has already earned rave evaluations, with one notable analyst suggesting that he has “shades of [Alexander] Isak and [Hugo] Ekitike“.

That Liverpool pairing have been each on Arsenal’s agenda heading into the summer time, previous to getting Gyokeres within the door, with Ekitike having fun with a very fruitful first season at Anfield, with 11 league objectives up to now.

Like Ekitike, Arsenal’s Hale Finish starlet has that potential to function centrally or off the left flank, blessed with blistering tempo, albeit partnered with spectacular physicality contemplating his youth.

In fact, throwing him into the fray this weekend may backfire so far as Arteta is worried, but with a long-term centre-forward answer nonetheless needing to be discovered, these may show invaluable minutes for Harriman-Annous.